FXWars! BIG Freeze!: Rio Team, Hybrid

#41

Well, we finally managed to suck Jason into the modeling efforts, so he’s been pretty tied up with that work. As a quicky update, here’s a clip from the live-action shoot we did a week-or-two ago…

http://pxc.muc3-austria.com/public/BehindTheScenes.mov

This clip was shot with Philipp’s HDV camera, which was placed on the floor facing away from the greenscreen. The intent of having this was primarily to capture a reverse angle for creating window reflections, but it also happens to catch quite a bit of the on set activity that never shows up in the final presentation.

#42

So much is going on, it’s pretty hard to keep this thread up to date.
Here’s a couple updates for now while Jason digs his way out of tons of other work :slight_smile:

Two additional team member names: Rich Levy & David Schultz

Turntable render of the cablecar model in development (still needs to be textured):
http://pxc.muc3-austria.com/public/tbf_cctt_pgw_v003.mov

(here’s a reference image for comparisson: http://francisphan.com/brazil/images/04%20Cablecar%20up%20to%20Sugarloaf.jpg)

Have fun.

#43

While most of the elements for other shots are still being fully development, Philipp and Martin have been busy working on renders for S01. Here’s a frame from a recent version…

#44

We added another team member this weekend:
Cameron Ambrose has volunteered to take on the particle effects invovled in creating the approaching storm wall seen in shots 03 and 05a.

Meanwhile…
Our next-to-last shot is a fly-around of the statue on Corcovado Mountain.
To fill out the background for the shot, Cris Palomino has been hard at work on a 10kx2k panoramic digital matte of Rio.

Things got started by using RealViz Stitcher to create a panoramic template from various photos found on the web:

Then she then began the digital painting process over the template, filling in missing areas and the “winterizing” the view:

About 3 weeks into the project, with the story long locked and live shooting done, a fellow PixelCorps member that had been following the progress on the PXC boards, came forward with “Oh, BTW, I was in Rio a few years ago and shot some hi-res photos from a helicopter. Would you like to use them?”

Cris set out to bring in the new material, which provided much greater detail … and a bit of extra work to fit into the existing template. :stuck_out_tongue:

Here’s a pre-and-post example of one area:
BEFORE

AFTER:

Cris repeated this process throughout most of the city:

And has returned to the work of winterizing the shot using photo reference and painting techniques:

As always … comments and crits are very welcome.

#45

I should just give up now looking at the quality of the work you have produced so far.:slight_smile:

#46

Noooo! Your entry is really coming together well. Looking forward to seeing it finished!
Thanks for the kind feedback though. :slight_smile:

Here’s another one of the digital mattes in development.
This one, being created by Don Perkins, overlooking Botafogo bay and Rio, will be used as a background for the end of s02 (before the storm strikes).

#47

NEVER SURRENDER!!!

  1. It’s of the greatest value for everyone to try and discuss and learn from each others efforts.
  2. It’s not all about the finished product…it’s the journey that makes it fun and rewarding. Imho the finished product, after working on it, is never good enough anyway and usally a tad bit boring LOL …but that’s me :wink:

Wm

#48

Anyone here remember the Richard Dryfus character from Close Encounters that built a mountain in his kitchen? After studying and re-constructing various features of Rio from every conceivable angle (esp. the Sugarloaf mountain peak) for the last 6 weeks, that’s about what this whole team feels like right now. :stuck_out_tongue:

Here’s a quick render of the general geography of the area to be used in a number of shots, created by Markus Groeteke using FormZ.

#49

Early test animation for the storm wall seen in shots 02(reflection), 03 & 05a:
http://pxc.muc3-austria.com/public/tbf_s03_stwall_cla_01.mov

#50

Looking very nice!

#51

Hey man that smoke looks great :smiley:

#52

OMG!:bounce:

What software was used to create the clouds? Any clues on how you did it?

I would kill to be able to do something like that with LW.
Is it volumetric or clip / sprite based ?

#53

Thanks guys.
Cameron Ambrose has been creating these storm effects using 3D particle systems in C4D.

#54

Wow. The more I see of C4D the more it impresses me. ( not discounting the skill of the artist using it of course.)

#55

Sorry about our files being down at the moment and no update today.
Our personal file server seems to have gone down with the power outage in California today. Luckily our planning and communications are up on the PXC systems so we can still work.

More updates to follow once we get our files server going again. :slight_smile:

#56

OK, so, power’s back on, here’s the latest update:

Martin Weber has been working on finalizing most of the cablecar exterior shots.
Here’s a lighting pass render:

And here’s a quick look at the swinging dynamics he’s been working out for the cables and car swinging around in the storm:
http://pxc.muc3-austria.com/public/tbf_s04_prv_cchit_mzw_v004.mov

Thanks for looking. :slight_smile:

#57

Hey everyone!

I thought it was about time I dropped in and said…

WOW! It’s looking awesome. Been following along for a while, and when I saw your first previs I thought OMG that’s a lot of work.
However in a short time you’ve come incredibly far.
And being a pxc member I can understand why.
Incredibly impressive and inspiring.

The swinging dynamic test is giving me a feeling of motion sickness, which is perfect.
Really excited to see what you guys come up with.

Marcus

#58

Thanks for the kind words Marcus. :slight_smile:
>> OMG that’s a lot of work.
Yeah, we were so excited and proud of cranking out a story and animatic in under two weeks … then we watched the animatic again and started having the same thoughts. :stuck_out_tongue:
It HAS been a lot of work (and we’re not done) for everyone involved, but it has also been extremely rewarding on many levels … and besides, on 9/26, we all get to go take a nap in the afternoon. :wink:

For today’s update, here’s a quick look at the low-res digital “stunt doubles” Cris is working on. We’re using these inside the (almost entirely glass) cablecar for wide angle shots … especailly in shots using Martin’s dynamics systems. :stuck_out_tongue:

Kendra:

Dave:

At this point, almost all of our critical assets are being turned over to rendering.
Not sure how much more we have around that would be of interest as a still or short animation without showing finished renders (just have to wait for the deadline to see those. :stuck_out_tongue: )

If there’s anything in particular you guys would like to see or “hear” more about here in the WIP thread, please feel free to ask! :slight_smile:

#59

Great “stunt doubles” NickJushchyshyn! I really like your work how it’s coming out!:smiley:

#60

I can’t take personal credit for those.
Cris Palomino is doing all the work on creating the digital standins, but I’ll be sure to point your post out to her.
Thanks for your kind feedback. :slight_smile: